The Crown’s Funding Proposals for the Rena Resource Consent Process

Last updated on: 17/12/2015

This page provides information about the Crown’s funding proposals, who was eligible to apply for funding and how much funding was available.

Purpose of the funding proposals

The funding proposals were to provide financial assistance to iwi/ hapū and other Māori submitters who had notified the Bay of Plenty Regional Council that they wished to be heard on a submission already filed in relation to the MV Rena resource consent application.

There were two funding proposals.

What were the funding proposals?

1. Instruct legal counsel to represent Māori submitters

Who was eligible?

Māori submitters (individuals or groups) who had notified the Bay of Plenty Regional Council that they wished to be heard on the submission already filed in relation to the MV Rena resource consent application

What did the funding cover?

Funding was made available to pay the costs to instruct Paul Beverley of Buddle Findlay, an experienced resource management lawyer, to assist Māori submitters.

How much funding was available?

The amount of funding available was $100,000 (excluding GST).

2. Contestable fund (Rena Fund)

Who was eligible?

The applicant must have been an iwi/hapū or other Māori group, that was, incorporated and unincorporated groups.

The group must have notified the Bay of Plenty Regional Council that they wished to be heard on the submission already filed in relation to the MV Rena resource consent application.

The group’s legal status must have been verified by providing the required supporting documentation.

How much funding was available?

There was no minimum grant or maximum grant per group, per application.

The Rena Fund had a total budget of $100,000 (excluding GST).

Assessing applications

Each application was assessed by an independent advisory panel against the Rena Fund’s primary criteria and other matters for consideration. The Panel made recommendations to the Chief Legal Advisor of the Ministry for the Environment. The Ministry for the Environment then made a supplementary recommendation of funding to the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Transport made final decisions of funding based upon these recommendations.

Independent expert advisory panel

The independent advisory panel comprised seven members appointed for their knowledge of environmental law, resource management issues, and of community groups and iwi. The members were appointed by the Ministry for the Environment. The current panel includes the following members: